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Dyslexia – Assessment and Overview

Many brain diseases can lead to permanent disabilities such as dyslexia.

When the condition is diagnosed in a patient, the person will usually exhibit a number of symptoms that will make it hard for him to learn and be properly educated. Over time, the person will find it hard to reach developmental milestones because of the challenges posed by dyslexia. There are still interventions, however, that can improve the condition and help the individual catch up with the various demands and activities. Here is a general overview of the disorder.

About Dyslexia

Dyslexia is one of the brain diseases that have already been studied for several decades. It is described as a learning disability that makes it very challenging for affected individuals to communicate, write, read and spell. Some patients might even show difficulty speaking. The condition is usually diagnosed at an early age although some people might not realize that they have the mild form until their adult years.

Dyslexia is a common disorder found in children and will last a lifetime. The symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. Early detection will be beneficial to patient so that doctors and families can provide the proper interventions that will ultimately improve their skills, making it more convenient to learn and cope with classes. In dyslexic patients, the brain cannot properly translate the images that the ears and eyes perceive. The problem also does not stem from visual or hearing difficulties and is not linked to low intelligence, mental retardation or brain damage.

Detecting Dyslexia

Dyslexia is among the brain diseases that can be quite common among children. However, the condition can be unnoticeable during the early stages of childhood. Parents will begin to notice their child failing to meet academic requirements and having difficulty writing and reading.

The child will also become frustrated because of the problems posed by the condition. After a few months or years, the child might act insecure or depressed. Behavior problems will start to set in and the child might exhibit mood swings or no longer wish to attend classes. The severity of the condition will determine up to which grade level the child can progress. People with the condition will also find it hard to express and communicate well. Some won’t be able to understand abstract language and jokes.

Diagnosing Brain Diseases: Types of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is classified into three namely trauma, primary and secondary dyslexia. The trauma type will happen after the person experiences some damage or trauma to the head or brain.

It is not very common today but children who suddenly develop difficulty in reading and writing after an accident or injury to the head may be diagnosed with the disorder. The primary type refers to the condition that sets in after damage to the cerebral cortex has been done. The problem will not go away as the person gets older. Individuals with this type of problem might progress up to the fourth grade level and then find it difficult to cope with lessons afterwards.

This is found to be genetic in nature and boys are particularly at risk for developing the condition. The third type secondary which is triggered by hormones during the first few levels of fetal development. The symptoms and effects will also get worse as the child grows older. The functions of the condition will also vary. There are dyslexia types that affect vision, so the child might write characters in reverse. Hearing difficulty might be misperceived, leading the patient to make mistakes when uttering sounds or listening to orders.

How to Treat Dyslexia

When treating these types of brain diseases, the doctor should make a thorough assessment and evaluation of the patient to point out the particular area that needs to be addressed. The different types will also mean that various regions or functions are affected.

Individuals have to be educated and guided according to the challenges they face. There is no cure to the problem but educational tools and interventions will help patients cope. There are actually several people who successfully cope and develop the right skills to live a normal life, build relationships and hold down a job. Patients can be taught how to use computers and other instruments to cope with the debilitating effects of dyslexia. In the long run, they can still excel despite the demands.